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‘Heaven is for Real’ DVD out Tuesday

By Jan Schultz

The Imperial Republican

Another surge of sales is expected to start next week when the DVD of “Heaven is for Real” is released. Official release date nationwide is July 22 and several local outlets expect to have it available next Tuesday or the day or two after. Becky Burpo, executive assistant with Heaven is for Real Ministries, said the local office at the Moreland Insurance building in Imperial is expecting a DVD shipment next week, hopefully on Tuesday. If not, they will be there Wednesday or Thursday, she said. Buyers of the DVD or any of the books at their local office can also request an autographed copy by Todd and Colton Burpo. Steve’s Video will have three to four “Heaven is for Real” rentals on Tuesday and owner Steve Smith will also have the movie for sale a week later. After that, people will also be able to purchase used DVD copies at a lower rate. Imperial Kwik Stop is expecting to have the movie for rent by Tuesday afternoon, depending on shipping. Alco Store’s manager said they expect to have it, as well, but unsure if it will arrive on July 22. Todd Burpo, whose son Colton tells of a trip to heaven and back during an emergency appendectomy when he was four, authored the book in 2010 with Lynn Vincent, which was followed by additional books, the movie and now DVD. As he and Colton traveled to Mexico City this week for a series of media interviews and book signings, Todd Burpo said Sony has been “surprised” with the movie’s success. The movie was just released in Mexico, Burpo said. “It has outperformed what they expected it to do,” he said. “It’s been an amazing opportunity,” he added, for a little boy’s story of going to heaven to gain access all over the world, “even in China.” The movie, released April 16, has grossed more than $90.8 million in its 13 weeks out. The original “Heaven is for Real” book is now printed in 39 languages and has sold over 10 million copies. It has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for 187 consecutive weeks, 76 of those in the No. 1 spot for non-fiction paperbacks. In addition to the original book, two children’s books, “Heaven is for Real for Kids” and “Heaven is for Real for Little Ones,” the latter a heavier-paged board book, have been printed. The two children’s books together have sold nearly one million copies. A devotional is also printed titled, “Heaven Changes Everything.”